Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A 32-year-old man from the Banjara community was found dead at his home on Saturday in Dharashiv district. Police recovered a note from his pocket. The note was addressed to the chief minister, demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation for the Banjara community.The deceased has been identified as Pavan Chavan, a graduate and resident of Naik Nagar, near Murum in Umarga taluka. Police said Chavan, who was unemployed, returned home on Friday after attending the Banjara reservation agitation held at Jintur in Parbhani district, under the leadership of Gor Sena chief Sandesh Pawar. Family members told police that he appeared disturbed since his return.The incident took place three days after a 35-year-old autorickshaw driver, Bharat Karad, jumped into the Manjra river on Wednesday, allegedly over fears of OBC reservation coming to an end.Amna Shafqat, the Dharashiv district’s in-charge superintendent of police, could not be reached for her comment on the issue. However, Murum police station’s assistant inspector, Sandip Dahiphale, told TOI, “According to the deceased man’s family, a two-line, unsigned note has been recovered from the deceased man’s pocket, in which an appeal has been made to the CM to include the Banjara community in the ST category, in accordance with the Hyderabad gazette.”Police said the note will be sent for handwriting verification by forensic experts. Based on a statement given by the deceased man’s cousin, Kisan Chavan, a case of accidental death has been registered. Police, citing the family’s version, said Pavan Chavan was preparing to leave for Jintur on Saturday morning. Around 11am, he hanged himself. He is survived by his parents, wife, son, and daughter.Community members said Chavan was actively creating awareness about ST reservation among his friends and was deeply involved in the ongoing movement. His death has sparked concern and outrage within the community, which has been demanding recognition as ST.The demand by the Banjara community has gained momentum in recent months after the state extended OBC quota benefits to the Maratha community by invoking the Hyderabad gazette.
